Shield for automobiles.



Tun sTaTns THEoDoRE r. Bouman, or

SHIELD F03 AUTOMOBILES.

Specicaton of Letters Patent. Application iled June 8, 1911. Serial No. 631,830.

MON'ICLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

Patented Jan. 9,1912.

To all wio/m, it'may concern.'

Be it known that I, THEoDoRE F. Bomann, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Montclair, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Imy Vset forth a wind shield having spaced longiits tudinally adjustable supports and a transparent iexible shield connected at one end with said supports and at the other end with a roller, with means for maintaining said supports and iiexible shield in different elevated positions, and my present improvements may be utilized in conjunction with the said wind shield.' L

The object of my present invention is to provide meansto keep the convolutions of the transparent flexiblematerial from contactx with eachother when wound upon the roller.

.My invention' comprises novel details of improvement and combinations of parts that. will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference isto be had' to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein,

Figure 1 is a partly broken face'vicw of my improved wind shield looking at the same from the rear or in the direction of travel; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail'end view looking from the left in Fig. 1, shown partly in section on the line 2,' 2, in Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line 3, 3, in Fig. 2, Fig. V4 is a section, enlarged, on the `line 4, 4, in Fig. 1; Fig. -5 is an enlarged cross section on the line '5, 5, in Fig. 1, and Fig.- 6 is a detail planview of part of the locking devices for the 'longitudinally adjustable supports.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding'parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 indicates a flexible shield, partly or wholly of suitable transparent material, suchl as Celluloid; fiberloid or the like,

and ,2 indicates a suitable spring-acting roller upon which the fiexible shield'l ismounted to be wound, in the nature of the ordinary shade roller, which roller may be ratchetless. Brackets 3 are secured upon a board or the like a and spaced apart by vthe iatter, which board may be attached to a Adash board or. other suitable part of a vehicle, or the brackets 3 may be connected direct-ly to the latter. Said Vbrackets are provided with alined guides 3b shown in hollow or tubular form slidably receiving for -longitudinal adjustment the spaced supports or uprights 4 that are c'onnected with the free end of the fiexible shield 1. The upper ends of the supports 4 are spaced and firmly connected by a transverse member 4a comprising a tube, rod or bar, the supports 4 being free from .each other below member 4a. The parts 4, 4 may be in a single piece of tubing or the like. bent to the desired shape, or lmay be in separate parts, connected together, as by elbows at the corners. The supports 4, 4a, are shown in yoke-like form and-may be of suitable depth and width, and are arranged for easy sliding 'movement through the guides 3b, whereby the flexible shield 1 will be raised and lowered correspondingly by and with said supports, and will unwind from or wind upon roller 2 as said supports are adjusted in the corresponding direction. The foregoing'parts are set forth in my said application Serial No. 599,117.

To vsecurely and yet detachably connect the flexible shield material 1 with its transverse supporting member 4a, I secure a bindthe upper edge of material' 1, saidbinding being preferably of relatively thin sheet ing 5, by means of eyelets or the like, along u metal, of one or two ply, whereby the upper f edge of material 1 is stiifened. The transverse member 4a is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 4b along, its-'under side., through which slot the binding 5 with the upper marginal portion of flexible material 1 is passed into the tubular member 4a, and across the member 4a are hangers or supports 5a for-the parts 1, 5 (see Fig. 5). lVhile the supports 5a may be of suitable construction, such as bolts or screws, I have illustrated two-part bolts or screws, the male screw-threaded portion bpassing through a suitable hole in member 4a and through a corresponding hole in theparts 1 and 5,- and entering the female threaded portion 5c that passes through a hole in the opposed wall :of transverse member 4a. rIvhere may be any desired number of the supports 5a, (arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 5), whereby binding' 5 is suspended from and mainly concealed within the transverse' 'member/1, andthe supports 5a may be screwed firmly in place to brace the slotted member 4B. The lower edge.y or edges ld' of binding -5 preferably project below the slot 4* of member 4f', to Aprotect the fiexible transparent material 1 from abrasion and injury at the edges of such slot. By the means described the flexible shield may be .readily detached from and applied to the transverse supporting member 4%, since the supports 5a may be readily disconnected and the binding slipped in and* out of member 4a. l l

The pivots 211 of roller 2 are carried by braces or extensions 3a of brackets 3, which extensions may be formed on the brackets as set forth in mysaid application Serial No. 599,117, ormay be in the form of detachable plates held. by screws 31'y yTo lmaintain the sliding supports 4 iii the desired posit-ions of longitudinal adjiustment and elevation I have rvshown locking devices comprising stops, illustrated in the '-'ormof slidable bolts 6, guided in bearings on brackets 3, adapted to enter suitably i' spaced and opposed openings or sockets 4c in supports 4. Springs 7 are shown bearing against bearings or stopsfc eirkthe brackets and against suitable projectie/ns `on bolts 6 to maintain the .iatter projected intov the corresponding openings 4. Said locking devices are substantially as in my aforesaid application, but herein I have shown different means for holding the stops or bolts 6 withdrawn from supports 4 and for releasing the former. To this end the stops or bolts Gare shown extended toward the center portion of the shieldl and along' the rear face of board a, and at a suitable position, preferably about midway of board a, said bolts are provided wit-h finger pieces 6:L suitably spaced 'apart for convenient manipulation and are guided by bearings e.

For locking the finger piecesr when pressed toward each other, and for readily-releasing the same, I vhave illustrated a catch piece or plate b secured to one end to board a land free at the other end to move relatively toward andfrom the board, the free end of the piece bf being suitably spaced from said board ,for such movement. The' piece b is provided on opposite Vsides with outwardly extended spaced ears c from which diverging or camlike websor portions d project toward board a. 4T he normal position of said parts is shown in Fig. 6, wherein the finger pieces .62L are adjacent the camlike pieces d, the bolts 6 then being projected by the springs 7 into. the openings 4c of supports 4. When the supports 4 are 6, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, whereby bolts 6'are held retracted from the openings 4 of supports 4, atwhich time said supports` and flexible shield maybe raised or lowered. To cause bolts 6 to again engage thel supports 4 the part b at its free end is pressed toward board a, thereby carrying the ears c back of the parts 6a and releasing bolts 6. nient provides a-'simple and eiiicient means for operating thebhlts 6 and retaining them withdrawn fro 'supports 4, and for readily releasing the same simultaneously.

Locking pip! 8 for roller 2 is shown guided in a bearing or hole =3* in plate 3a and operativelj7 connected witha lever 8a that is piwotally supported, at 8*, upon plate 3a, the lever 8L being connected with' one of the bolts 6, as by a pin 8 projecting from said bolt through anppening in lever 8a. I have shown the par s S, 8**,1novab'lly The foregoing arrangeconnected so that the pin 8 may slideJ properly in its bearing 3d' notwithstanding the pivotal movement of lever 8a.V To this end I have shown a screw.. or pin 9 carried by lever 82L ,and passing through an ,upwardlyvdisposed slot 9a in the head portion of pin 8, the head screw 9' serving to retain 'pin 8 in proper position upon lever'Sa. The bearing 3d .is shown-close to the endof roller 2, whereby strain of the roller upon the pin 8 is reduced ,owing to the juxtaposition of the parts. The recesses-'or teeth 2*J may be formedin a plate 10 secured at the end of roller 2 to resist wear. By supporting the pivot 2aof roller 2 andthe roller locking pin 8 upon the same'. part the'proper'positions of the parts are maintained and strength of the pa'rtsv is attained with lightness thereof. When `the bolt- 6 is withdrawn from support 4, lever'8a will rock and withdraw locking pin Sufi-om the recess2" and release roller 2, andw said pin will remain in its bearing 3d, and Iwhen bolt 6 is released to pass .through recess-'4 of support 4 lever Salwillbe-rocked to push pin 8 into recess,

2*. The relative .proportions of the .parts is such that if, when the bolt 6 is'released,4

the inner end of pinmS should abut against the material between two adjacent recesses l2", thepin would then be held withdrawn from a recess, but the free end of bolt r6 will have passed sufficiently into hole 4c of vsupport 4 to sustain the latter, and then nvhen wind pressure upon the flexible shield l' causes roller 2 to rotate slightly, and thereby a recess 2* 'is'brought inline with pin8, the action of spring 7 on lever 8ar will be to push pin 8 into such recess 2* to lock the roller, and the bolt 6 will slide farther into support 4. I

To prevent `Vthe surfaces of the convolutions of the transparent flexible material 1 from contacting when wound upon 4roller 2, I provide a sheet of exible material 11,

such as suitable cloth, which may he made waterproof, and which winds upon the roller 2 with and between the convolutions of flexible material 1. The end of cloth'll remote from roller 2'is secured to a springacting roller 12, like a shade yroller but ratchetless, the pivots 12a of roller412 being carried by the supports 3a at a suitable distance from and parallel with roller 2. The two sheets of flexible material 1 and 11 are, atadjacentends, fastened to roller 2 and the latter will wind said sheets together in interposed convolutions or layers, as illustrated in Fig. 4, Whenflexible material 1 is raised and unwinds from roller 2 the cloth 11 will likewise unwind from said roller and will simultaneously therewith `be woundv upon roller 12. 'When flexible material 1 is lowered with its supports 4 and winds upon roller 2 the material 11v will likewise wind upon roller 2 and will unwind from roller 12, the spring of roller 12 always acting to maintain pull upon materiall 11, but the` spring of roller sheets l.of flexible material thereon.

the rollers.

2 should be of, greater .tension than the spring of roller 12 so as to unwind the cloth 11 from the latter when roller 2 is winding the By this means a sufficient amount of cloth 11 is provided to be wound with the flexible material 1 upon roller 2 and yet such cloth is maintained' in compact relation and adjacent roller 2. The advantage is that the surfaces of the convolutions of transparent flexible material 1, suchas fiberloid, celluloid and the like, will not engage or abrade one another, and dust that may collect upon material 1 will, by contact with the relatively soft material 11, be prevented from injuring the surface of material 1 which might occur if rubbed by the relatively hard contacting surfaces of the latter. It will be observed that the rollers 2 and 12 are shown located behind and in line with the board a, and to protect said rollers and the coils of flexible material a protector 111 is provided, and which is shown carried by the plates 3 and secured thereto by screws 15.

To' clean the inner surface of the flexible vmaterial 1 as the same is raised and low ered I provide soft. material 16, such as cloth, felt or the like, which is shown secured to the edge of protector 14 and bearing against the rear surface of flexible material 1, which also serves to resist the deposit of dust upon the rolled-up flexible materials as well as the flow of water down to To -clean the front surface of shield material 1 I provide a strip of relatively soft material 17 which is shown bearing at one edge against material 1 and secured upon board a lby means of a plate 18 held to the board by screws 19 which pass through the parts 17, 18. This also serves to prevent the tlow of water between the parts 1 and.17. In my application for patent on shields for automobiles and other vehicles, filed December 8, 1910, Serial No. 596,707, I have shown a flexible shield and a strip of relatively soft material bearing flexible shield material 1, with the supports or hangers 5a, 2 and 12 having the soft flexible material or cloth 11 woundin with the convolutions as well as the pair of rollers of the transpareiittlexible shield material f 1, may be utilized in connection with my last named shield, b or in other shields of an analogous character."

My improvements. are effective and safe in use, in that there is no glass required, and there is no obstruction above the trans-verse member 4, the shield being free and unobstructed above the same. The shield may be readily raised and lowered tothe desired heights and be held in such positions; the parts are simple and cheap to manufacture, are relatively light in weight, and notv liable to get out of order. f

Changes may be made in the arrangeasl ments set forth, Within the scope of theapmy invention what 1. The combination of a pair of rollers,l

a plurality. of sheets of flexible material adapted to be wound upon one of said rollers in interposed convolutions, one end of one of said sheets of material being adapted to be wound upon the other of said rollers, the other of said sheets of material being free at one end from the first named roller to permit said sheet to be .unwound from said roller.

2. The combination of a pair o rollers, a plurality of sheets of flexible material adapted to be wound upon oneof said rollers in interposed convolutions, one end of one of said sheets of material being adapted yto be wound upon the other of said rollers,

the other of said sheets of material being free at one end from the first named roller to permit said sheet to be unwound from said roller, and means for supporting the -free end of the last named sheet of material in different positions of elevation.

3. The combination of a pair of rollers, a pluralityof sheets of flexible material connected with one of said rollers and adapted to wind' thereon in interposed convolutions, the free end of one of said sheets ot' material being connected with the'other of said rollers, and means for supporting the free end ogffthe 4other sheet of said material-in different positions of elevation.

1.4.,The combination of a pair' of springactingrollers, a plurality o-sheets of flexible material eonneoted at corresponding endswith one of said rollers and adapted to ywind'thereon in interposed convolutions, the

free end of one of said sheets of material being connected with the other of said rollers to be wound thereon as unwound from the first named roller, the free end of the othersheet being free from both rollers, and l means for supporting the free end Yof Vthe last named sheet in different positions of elevation;

5. The combination of a pair of paralleli spring-acting frollers spaoed apart, the

` yrial being connected with the other of said als rollers tovbe Wound thereon as unwonnd v:trom the irst named roller, and means connected with the free end of the other of said sheets .of material to -retain the same in y different vpositlons of elevation.

6. The combination of a pair of spring acting rollers spaced apart, the spring of one .'roller being of greater tension than the` s ringeo the other roller, a plurality/*of s eets of flexible material ada ted to be wound upon the roller having t e stronger spring and rollable on said roller ianintent posed convolutions, one end of one of 'said sheets of material being adapted to be Wound upon the roller having the weaker spring to be Wound thereon as unwound from the irst named roller, the other of said sheets of material being free at one end from the roller having the stronger spring to permit saidsheet to be unwound from said roller. l

7 The 'combination of a pair of spring acting rollers spaced apart, the spring of oneroller being of greater tension than the spring of the other roller, a plurality of sheets of flexible 'material 'adapted to be Wound upon the'roller having the stronger spring and rollable Von .said roller in interF posed convolntions, lpne end of one of said sheets of material being adapted to be Wound vupon Athe roller having the weaker spring to be Wound thereon as unw'ound 'from the first named roller, the other of said sheets of material beingv free at one end from the roller having the stronger spring to permit said sheet to be linwound from said roller,

and means for supporting the free end of the last named sheet of material in different positionsof elevation.

Signed at New- York city, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 7th day of June, A. D. 1911.

THEODORE F. BOURNE.

Witnesses: a

MAX M. KoTznN, Marmi: F. WAINBIGHT. 

